Dad: A Daughter's First Love

     I've always heard that a dad is a daughter's first love and I have no doubt that this is true. One of the first people to show me love was my daddy. You know it's love when a grown man plays Barbies and Polly Pockets while employing funny voices and acting skills to play out a scene with his little girl. Love is however more than playing with dolls. It's always being there when I needed to sit on his lap and talk, watching TV late at night with me when I couldn't sleep, letting me sit right next to him in the truck, and not getting angry when I puked all over him on the way to my elementary school one morning. Now that is love. 

     Some of my greatest memories have been made with my padre. The crazy ones anyways and probably some of the most embarrassing moments that will haunt me for the rest of my life, but that's okay because I wouldn't trade them for anything. Let's just say it's good that my dad and I both have the same sense of humor or things could get really weird. I can recall two of these memorable events without even having to think long and hard about our fun times together. Both are stories he likes to bring to my remembrance more often than necessary. 

     One of the funniest memories I can recall took place in my own backyard. I was in elementary school at the time so I wasn't too old. My dad and I were playing our regular game of wiffle ball. He would pitch the ball and I would whack that thing like my life depended on it. I even remember cracking a few balls. I guess my athletic ability left during puberty, but anyways back to the story. We'd been playing for a while when it came to that one pitch that seared a memory so deep into the ridges of my brain that I'll probably go out with one big guffaw when I'm laying on my deathbed. Okay, it's not that funny, but you get the point. He threw the ball and BAM! I smacked that sucker so hard Babe Ruth would be green with envy! But instead of it flying into the air like a graceful dove, it hit my dad straight in the knee. But you see, it didn't look like it hit him in the knee if you know what I mean. So being the compassionate child I was, I yelled out, "Daddy, are you okay?! Did it hit you in the bell?!" As his knee was throbbing in pain, he looked up and said, "What???" To which I replied, "You know... Ding dong." My oh my. The things I came up with at such a young age. And if you think this story is bad, just wait until you read the next one.

    This is a story that I have kept to myself and have threatened to kill my parents if they ever told anyone. Well, not really. But it is that bad that it may warrant such a threat so you should feel a special privilege for me sharing this with you because it may be one of the most embarrassing childhood stories I know. The setting was late at night in the den and as usual, my dad and I were playing horsey. I don't know if you ever played this game, but it involves me riding around on my dad's back as he was down on hands and knees neighing like the barnyard animal. When he went to put me down, he slid me over his head and onto the floor, but when I went over his head, I let one rip. I feel awkward using the word "fart", but that is exactly what I did. Right on his head. I was a gassy little thing and possessed the gift of tooting on command. Yes, I was one of THOSE children. And I think that this would be a great time to claim that I have grown out of that phase. Anyways, my dad yelled something like, "EWWWWWWWWWW! I felt that on my head!" I laughed until I thought I was going to pee all over myself. Good times...

    That's my dad and me for you. Playing hardcore wiffle ball and farting on heads. Oh dear. Like I said, I'm glad we both have the same sense of humor. GOD has truly blessed me with such a great dad, playmate, and a man I will always admire. I wouldn't trade him for anything else in the world. Not John Mayer, a '65 red convertible mustang, my own private island... Nothing. You just can't replace someone so amazing and special. I don't care what it is. I love you padre and I always will! Happy Father's Day!

Forever your little girl,
      Carlee (AKA: Sweatheart) (Yes, I spelled "sweetheart" wrong when I was little, okay? Don't judge.)

My Bucket List Endeavors

    My first blog post. So to be honest, I have no idea why I created a blog other than the fact that it's on my bucket list. I mean, I really have nothing of interest to say. In fact, I feel somewhat awkward as I write this knowing that it will probably never receive the amount of fame I secretly dream of it having.

    As I said, this is one of my items on my bucket list. I believe that every individual on earth should have a bucket list and do crazy things. I mean we all know the phrase YOLO, right? Well, I want to be that girl, or woman because that is what I am, a grown woman who now has a blog, who goes out of her comfort zone to live a life of no regrets. Okay so maybe I will regret some of the things I do on my bucket list, but at least I won't regret that I never tried something for fear of what others would think.
   
    But anywho, back to the topic! A bucket list. I know you're wondering what items I have on my bucket list and what crazy things I've done. At least I hope so because I'm trying to build suspense here. Don't worry! I'll tell you and maybe you, if anyone ever reads this, will be inspired to create your own.

    So far my bucket list consists of these ten things:
1) Read the entire Bible - And yes, it is sad that I haven't done this, but I'm working on it! I've learned that it's more important to read and understand that to simply read to finish.

2) Sing in a black choir - I admit that I'm probably the whitest girl that ever walked on GOD's green earth, but I like to refer to myself as an inside-out oreo even if it is a complete lie.

3) Become fluent in Spanish - Easier said than done.

4) Go star gazing - I admit that I have a problem, maybe even an obsession for looking at the night sky. I will defintely be completing this one soon.

5) Swim in an ocean where I can see my feet (and know they're not about to be taken off by a shark)

6) Have a foot-popping kiss - If you've ever seen The Princess Diaries, you know exactly what I'm talking about! I mean there is nothing more romantic than raising your foot as your being kissed, right? Although with my luck, it would probably look as though I'm having a leg spasm.

    The last four I've actually accomplished and I don't really know why I'm about to post this on the internet, but hey, I'm just going to be real and own up to what I've done.

7) Go coning - So if you don't know what this is, let me explain. Coning involves going through a fast food restaurant (like McDonald's) and ordering a vanilla ice cream cone. Then when you pull up to the window to retrieve you're delicious treat, you grab the ice cream and drive off, leaving the unsuspecting drive-thru worker in shock as they hold the now ice-creamless cone in their hand. It sounds dumb, but it is hilarious!

8) Get a tattoo of a boy's name - I did this one at church camp, but don't have a cow! It was a henna and it lasted about 3 weeks. One of the most spontaneous things I've ever done. Shout out to the one and only Wesley Parnelle.

 

 

9) Go skinny dipping - This has by far been the craziest thing I've ever done. It was at a friend's pool in the dark at 3 in the morning. We were the only ones there. And me, being the graceful person I am, dropped my towel in the water and left a huge track of water in her house from the back door to the bathroom where my clothes awaited my skinny dipping self. It was such a rush. I do apologize however for not having a picture of this one to include in the blog. I know. You're in tears right now. Just kidding! Trust me. If I had taken a picture (which would NEVER happen) and posted it, you WOULD be in tears. I'm crying now. No. But really it was great. Will I do it again? Probably not, but I'm glad I did.

 

10) Create a blog - You, my fellow blog reader, are seeing this one in action!

 

Well, I hope I haven't bored you into never reading again in your life. I think I bored myself. I guess this is the end of my first blog entry. Hope you enjoyed it and are already thinking of the wonderful possiblities your own bucket list can include!